For Immediate Release:
02/04/19
Contact:
Steven Gosset
| Steven.Gosset@nypa.gov
Media Relations | (914) 390-8192
CANAL CORPORATION RENEWS CONTRACT WITH ERIE CANALWAY HERITAGE FUND
WHITE PLAINS—The New York State Canal Corporation Board of Directors has approved a new contract with the Erie Canalway Heritage Fund to bolster marketing, promotions and programs in the canal corridor.
The $425,000 contract, which runs through Dec. 31, 2021, will also assist with sponsorships of canal community events and reaching new audiences for major canal recreational initiatives. The Erie Canalway Heritage Fund is a nonprofit that aids in carrying out the work of the Erie Canalway National Heritage Corridor, one of nearly 50 national heritage areas affiliated with the National Park Service.
The Canal Corporation has had agreements with the Erie Canalway Heritage Fund since 1999.
“We’ve had a long and fruitful partnership with Erie Canalway and look forward to more collaborations to not only preserve the heritage of the canals but encourage more people to experience this iconic waterway,” said Brian U. Stratton, Canal Corporation director. “This contract will help Erie Canalway help the State in promoting the canals as a world-class tourism destination.”
Among the projects this contract will support is a popular calendar distributed for free statewide that features the winning images from a photo contest that promotes the diverse recreation experience along the canal—including paddling, cycling, hiking and boating—as well as the canals’ heritage as they near their third century of operation.
The contract also funds the production of a comprehensive map and guide, widely available at visitor centers, public events and boat shows, which provides in-depth information about traveling on the Canal System, its history and a list of major events along the canals for the year.
“Our partnership with the NYS Canal Corporation enables us to expand the reach of programs that serve residents and visitors within the canal corridor,” said Bob Radliff, Erie Canalway executive director. “Together, we are working to create vibrant upstate communities and a strong sense of pride throughout the 524-mile long Erie Canalway National Heritage Corridor.”
About the New York State Canal Corporation
New York’s canal system includes four historic canals: the Erie, Champlain, Oswego and Cayuga-Seneca. Spanning 524 miles, the waterway links the Hudson River with the Great Lakes, the Finger Lakes and Lake Champlain. The canals form the backbone of the Erie Canalway National Heritage Corridor and connect hundreds of unique and historic communities. In 2019, New York will mark the 200th anniversary of the first trip taken on the Erie Canal, from Rome to Utica.
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